Performance-based scoring system for the sport of boxing

ABSTRACT

A new method for the sport of boxing that includes the introduction of a circular step platform, score keepers, a performance-based scoring system, and a scheduled boxing season. A league of boxers trained to fight using a performance-based scoring system. A performance-based scoring system used to determine an undisputed boxing champion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is no performance-based scoring system in traditional boxing allowing for controversies in boxing bouts. Traditional boxing bouts are based on judge's scorecards of a 10-point must scoring system which is subjective. A 10-point must scoring system usually awards a winner of a round 10 points and a loser 9 (8 points if a loser is knocked down) not accounting for performance discrepancies. A performance discrepancy occurs when a boxer wins a round overwhelmingly and another boxer barely wins a round, both of whom are awarded 10 points based on winning that round not based on their performance. This discrepancy is detrimental to the sport of boxing. Rules such as excessive hugging and head butting are constantly and consistently broken due to a lack of enforcement during a boxing bout. Furthermore, traditional boxing utilizes ropes to contain boxers inside of boxing rings and assist boxers from falling out of the ring. These are major flaws in present day boxing that will be address in this proposed invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention enhances the excitement of boxing bouts by including unique guidelines as follows:

1. Elimination of ropes from boxing rings.

2. Introduction of a circular step platform.

3. Elimination of judges.

4. Introduction of score keepers.

5. Elimination of a 10-point must scoring system.

6. Introduction of a performance-based scoring system.

7. Elimination of boxing promoter match making.

8. Introduction of organized scheduled boxing seasons.

By the elimination of ropes from boxing rings, judges, a 10-point must scoring system, and boxing promoter match making and the introduction of a circular step platform, score keepers, a performance-based scoring system, and organized scheduled boxing seasons, boxing matches will be accurately critiqued and has the potential to be more exciting than traditional boxing because every boxing action has a value associated to it. This will also reduce controversies and discrepancies in traditional boxing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Introduction of a Circular Step Platform

A. In order to intensify boxing bouts and center the action within the boxing area, the elimination of ropes and boxing rings are necessary. The stage of choice for the performance-based scoring system shall be a circular step platform. If some boxer's decide to fight near the edge of the platform instead of the center of it, those boxer's will be risking the possibility of being boxed out of the upper section of the platform and allowing their opponent to be awarded critical points. The lower section of the platform will be 30 feet in diameter and will rise 3 feet 10 inches from the surface. The upper section of the platform will be centered within the lower section and will be 20 feet in diameter and will rise 4 feet from the surface. The upper section will be known as “the pad”, where boxers must compete during a live boxing bout. The lower section will be known as “the cushion”, where boxers will fall, step, of jump if they are boxed out of the pad. Seconds shall remain on the surface during a live boxing bout. In-between rounds seconds shall set-up stools and other gear to coach, assist, and hydrate their boxers on the cushioned section of the platform. The platform will have space available on the pad for advertisements. The cushion will have north, east, south, and west spaces for publicity items. These items will include the name of the promoting company, the name of the current boxing champion, the name of the facility in which the event is taking place, and the name of the city in which the event is taking place.

Introduction of Score Keepers.

B. The duties of score keepers are to award offensive, defensive, and bonus points to boxers based on their performance during a boxing bout. In addition, they are to record all fouls and penalties charged to boxers. These score keepers will eliminate the need for judges because the outcome of the fight shall be based on the boxer's performance rather than the judge's perception. Five score keepers are needed to accurately score a boxing bout. Two offensive score keepers will record all offensive points, one offensive score keeper will record all offensive points for the boxer in which assigned. Two defensive score keepers will record all defensive points, one defensive score keeper will record all defensive points for the boxer in which assigned. An alternate referee will record all bonus points such as fouls and penalty points. In the event that an alternate referee must assume primary referee duties, a statistician of the boxing bout must record all bonus points.

Introduction of the Performance-Based Scoring System.

C. Every boxing action has a value associated to it, allowing the winner of a boxing bout to be determined by the boxer who outperforms his opponent throughout the bout. Due to the large amount of boxing actions possible during a bout, these point values have been fractionated. Once these points are observed they will be award as follows:

Single: A single is an offensive action using one punch that successfully lands on an opponent above the belt excluding an elbow, forearm, wrist, glove or back of the body and has a value of 2/10 (0.2) of a point associated to it.

Block: A block is a defensive action using timing and an elbow, forearm, wrist, or glove to prevent an opponent from successfully landing a punch above the beltline and has a value of 3/10 (0.3) of a point associated to it.

Avoid: An avoid is a defensive action using timing and tactics like bobbing and weaving, ducking, side stepping, etc. to successfully avoid contact from an opponent's attempts to land a punch above the beltline and has a value of 4/10 (0.4) of a point associated to it.

Double: A double is an offensive action using two punches consecutively with alternating gloves that successfully lands on an opponent above the belt excluding an elbow, forearm, wrist, glove or back of the body and has a value of 5/10 (0.5) of a point associated to it.

Kneeldown: A kneeldown is essentially a timeout, it is a defensive action that is awarded to the opponent of the kneeling boxer when the kneeler voluntarily takes a knee to rest on the pad and has a value of 6/10 (0.6) of a point associated to it. During a kneeldown the referee will step between the kneeling boxer and his opponent. It is illegal to strike a kneeling boxer. The kneeling boxer will be given a ten (10) second countdown and is required to rise at or before the count of one (1).

Outbox: An outbox is an offensive and/or defensive action indicated by the referee, when one boxer uses more effective punches and/or defensive moves consecutively while absorbing and/or blocking punches from an opponent during an engagement where both boxers are aggressively brawling and has a value of 7/10 (0.7) of a point associated to it. Once a referee indicates an outbox is occurring, the boxer that successfully lands the last punch during the engagement is deemed the winner of that outbox.

Combo: A combo is an offensive action using three punches consecutively with alternating gloves that successfully lands on an opponent above the belt excluding an elbow, forearm, wrist, glove or back of the body and has a value of 8/10 (0.8) of a point associated to it.

Boxout: A boxout is a offensive action that forcibly knocks an opponent's head, back, elbow, glove, buttocks, knee or foot out of the pad to the cushion of the platform and has a value of 9/10 (0.9) of a point associated to it.

Knockdown: A knockdown is an offensive action that forcibly knocks an opponent's head, back, elbow, glove, buttocks, or knee to any part of the pad or cushion and the boxer knocked down has the strength to rise within ten (10) seconds and continue boxing and has a value of three (3) whole points associated to it.

Fouls: A foul is a neutralizing action committed by one boxer against the other and charged by the referee to an offending boxer. For every foul charged against a boxer, 1/10 (0.1) of a point times the foul number committed will not be awarded to the boxer fouled. An example is if a boxer commits his fifth foul his opponent will be awarded 5/10 (0.5) of a point for that foul, and if that same boxer goes on to commit a sixth foul his opponent will be awarded 6/10 (0.6) of a point for that foul and so on. Fouls are listed as follows:

a) Hitting below the belt b) Use of elbows, shoulders, or forearms as punches c) Butting with the head d) Hitting in the back of the head (rabbit punch) e) Striking the kidneys or back f) Hitting with the ante dorsum (the inside of the glove) g) Hitting with the back of the hand h) Striking with the knees, feet, or any part of the legs i) Hitting the opponent when part of his body is in the boxout section j) Hitting an opponent when he is down or getting up from the pad k) Leaving the neutral corner and striking the opponent before the referee's instructions l) Holding the opponent or maintaining a clinch m) Striking after the referee's order to “break” or “stop” n) Stepping on the opponent o) Holding the opponent's head or body with one hand, while hitting with the other p) Using the open hand to fix the face or rub the glove on the opponent's face q) Thumbing the opponent's eyes r) Striking after the bell s) Biting or spitting on the opponent t) Grabbing, pushing, pressing and tripping

Penalty: A penalty is a neutralizing action committed by one boxer against the rules of the game and charged by the referee to an offending boxer. For every penalty charged against a boxer, 1/10 (0.1) of a point times the penalty number committed will be deducted from the penalized boxer. An example is if a boxer is charged with his fifth penalty, he will lose 5/10 (0.5) of a point for that penalty, and if that same boxer is charged with his sixth penalty, he will lose 6/10 (0.6) of a point for that penalty and so on. Penalties are listed as follows:

a) Using abusive or profane language b) Failing to obey the referee's command c) Giving the back and walking away from the other boxer d) Running from the other boxer e) Lacking the will to box f) Cutting or mutilate the gloves (seconds) g) Any rough tactics other than clean punches. h) Breaking prefight rules during a bout i) Breaking bout rules

Non-Value Action: A non-value action is an action charged by the referee which includes slipping, falling, and inadvertent boxouts and does not have a value point associated to it.

Knockout: In the event of a knockout, the boxing bout shall be over and the boxer left standing shall be deemed the winner. If the boxer that was knocked out was leading in points, his opponent shall be granted a two point victory for the knockout.

D. This invention includes 8 three minute rounds in a boxing bout and all points awarded shall be added to determine the winner. If the point differential is within two points at the end of the 8^(th) round, the fight will then advance to a 9^(th) round (extra round). As long as the trailing boxer is within two points from the leading boxer at the end of round 8, that trailing boxer shall receive a margin of error reward and the fight shall be tied going into the 9^(th) round. The winner of the ninth round shall be deemed the winner of the fight. If there is a tie at the end of the 9^(th) round, the fight will then advance to a 10^(th) and final round (sudden death round). The first boxer who outscores his opponent, or successfully lands 2 more combos than his opponent, or boxes his opponent out, or knouts his opponent down, or forces his opponent to kneeldown, or knocks his opponent out shall be deemed the winner of the fight. During a portion of each round an instrumental musical performance with or without a chorus will be played to produce adrenaline for the boxers to intensify a boxing round.

Introduction of Organized Scheduled Boxing Seasons.

E. There will be three weight classes, as follows:

-   -   Lightweight—A lightweight is a boxer weighing between 130 and         159 lbs.     -   Middleweight—A middleweight is a boxer weighing between 160 and         199 lbs.     -   Heavvweight—A heavyweight is a boxer weighing 200 lbs or more.

F. There will be a scoring apparatus that openly displays information such as a boxer's name, a boxer's points, a round indicator, punching statistics, fouls charged, and time remaining in a round.

G. Ranked Divisional Boxing: The United States will be divided into eight geographical boxing divisions per weight class. Each division will have a divisional training city. Each division will also have seven boxing cities where ranked boxers travel to fight. Every ranked boxer will be scheduled to fight in every city of his division during the course of a boxing season.

Unless selected by a special committee, all ranked boxers must have previously been unranked boxers and obtain their ranking through the unranked divisional tournament. There will be eight ranked boxers assigned to every division. The objective for the ranked boxers is to fight for a championship title. Every ranked boxer will be scheduled to fight every other ranked boxer in his division during the course of a boxing season.

The boxer with the best record after seven fights shall be the divisional winner. If two boxers in the same division finish with the same record, the divisional winner shall be the boxer who won the boxing bout between the two. If more than two boxers in the same division finish with the best record, the divisional winner shall be the boxer with the highest point differential throughout the boxing season. If a divisional winner isn't clear based on the previously mentioned methods, a series of coin tosses shall determine the divisional winner. The divisional winner is the only boxer from his division that shall advance to the boxoffs (playoffs of boxing).

The seventh and eighth place ranked boxers from each division will lose their rankings the following year to unranked boxers who advanced in the unranked divisional tournament. The fifth and sixth place ranked boxer will fight for their rankings in a special boxing tournament. If the fifth or sixth place ranked boxer from each division win the first fight of the special boxing tournament they retain their rankings. If the fifth or sixth place ranked boxer lose their second fight of the special boxing tournament they will lose their rankings.

H. Unranked Divisional Tournament: The United States will be divided into eight geographical boxing divisions per weight class. Each division will have a divisional training city. Each division will also have seven boxing cities where unranked boxers travel to fight. Every unranked boxer will be placed in a double elimination bracket that will shadow the ranked schedule from city to city in that division.

There will be sixteen unranked boxers assigned to every division. The objective for the unranked boxers is to fight for a ranking in the upcoming boxing season. Every unranked boxer will be placed in a double elimination bracket. The bracket will consist of a winner's bracket and a contender's bracket. When an unranked boxer who never lost a fight, wins a fight, he will advance in the winner's bracket. Once an unranked boxer loses a fight he will be placed in the contender's bracket. A loss in the contender's bracket means elimination from the unranked divisional tournament. The boxer who wins the last fight in the winner's bracket will receive a ranking for the following year. The boxer who loses the last fight in the winner's bracket will fight in a special boxing tournament for a ranking versus a fifth or sixth place ranked boxer. The winner of the last fight in the contender's bracket will fight in a special boxing tournament for a ranking versus a fifth or sixth place ranked boxer.

I. Special Boxing Tournament: The boxer who loses the last fight in the winner's bracket and the winner of the last fight in the contender's bracket shall fight the fifth and sixth placed ranked boxers for the three available ranked slots at the end of the regular boxing season. The fifth placed ranked boxer will decide which unranked boxer he wants to fight. The sixth placed ranked boxer will fight the other unranked boxer in the first round of the special boxing tournament. The two winners of the first round of the special boxing tournament will receive or retain their rankings and the two losers will fight each other for the last available ranking for the following year.

J. Boxoffs: The 8 ranked divisional boxing winners shall compete in a single elimination tournament following the regular boxing season to determine a champion while utilizing a performance-based scoring system.

This performance-based scoring system invention is intended to be used in lieu of a 10-points must scoring system of traditional boxing giving more credibility, excitement, and organization to the sport. 

1. A method of competing in a boxing match, said method comprising of competing in a circular step platform, said platform consisting of an upper section known as the pad and a lower section known as the cushion.
 2. A method of competing in a boxing match, said method comprising of competing to score more points than an opponent, said scores consisting of points earned based on a performance-based scoring system.
 3. A method of competing in a boxing match, said method comprising of score keepers observing the boxing actions performed by their assigned boxer, said score keepers consisting of awarding the appropriate amount of points to their assigned boxer based on those boxing actions.
 4. A method of organizing the sport of boxing, said method comprising of a scheduled boxing season, said boxing season consisting of the utilization of a performance-based scoring system. 